Shipping container

ABSTRACT

A shipping container having end panels with matching medial recesses along their lower margins. A series of flaps and panels depending from the side and bottom panels fold conformably into these recesses to define a longitudinal channel for entry of a forklift or the like. A flat-bottom interior may be provided either by a fiber board recess cover or by filler pads inserted into the container legs.

0 United States Patent r 13,606,615

[72] Inventor Robert O. Blasdell 2,142,142 l/1939 Newsom 229/37 E Birmingham, Mich. 2,444,183 6/1948 Cahners 229/49 X [21] Appl. No. 855,307 2,494,730 1/1950 Thursby r 229/49 X [22] Filed Sept. 4,1969 2,609,136 9/1952 Sider 108/51 X [45] Patented Sept. 28,1971 3,026,015 3/1962 Severn..... 108/56 X [73] Assignee The Mead Corporation 3,126,144 3/1964 McCulloch 229/49 Dayton, Ohio 3,199,764 8/1965 Oliver et a1. 229/37 3,519,190 7/1970 Achermann et all. 229/37 3,434,435 3/1969 Achermann et al. 108/56 SHIPPING CONTAINER 2,703,645 3/1955 Scrimshaw 206/65 B 2 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs- 2,008,664 7 1935 Dowst 206/4519 [52] US. Cl 229/37 E, primary Examiner Leonard Summer 229/23 A Attorney-John W. Donahue [51] lot. Cl B65d 5/08, B65d 5/50 [50] Field of Search 229/23 D, ABSTRACT: A Shipping container having end panels with 37 R149, 37 E, 23 23 B, 6 A; log/51,56; matching medial recesses along their lower margins. A series 206/65 B of flaps and panels depending from the side and bottom panels fold conformably into these recesses to define a longitudinal [56] References (med channel for entry ofa forklift or the like. A flat-bottom interi- UNITED STATES PATENTS or may be provided either by a fiber board recess cover or by 940,782 4/1909 Bird 229/37 X filler pads inserted into the container legs.

PAIENIEnsEP28i9n 3508,8123

FIG. 1

INVENTOR. ROBERT O. BLASDELL 9046 uoa SHIPPING CONTAINER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to shipping containers and more particularly to containers for shipping products of large volume an moderate weight. Upon being loaded, such containers are ordinarily moved by means of a forklift. To facilitate such movement it is customary to strap the shipping container to some type of pallet. Many types of pallets are available for such purposes. More recently pallets have been combined with shipping containers to make what is customarily known as a palletized container.

Palletized shipping containers greatly simplify the shipping operation by eliminating the requirements for separately manufactured and handled pallets. Typically, such palletized containers have special bottom panels which are folded to define longitudinal legs. The legs thusly defined provide entry room for a forklift, but generally do not have sufficient structural integrity support a load. Therefore, it has been necessary to reinforce the pallet leg with a wooden block or other suitably rigid material.

A requirement has existed for a shipping container which not only eliminates the need for a pallet, but also provides forklift entry capability without rigid leg supporting inserts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention provides a shipping container having a longitudinal entry channel straddled by a pair of integral longitu dinally extending legs. The channel is defined by a pair of matching medial recesses at the lower margin of the container end walls and by flaps and panels which fold conformably into these recesses. The lower marginal nonrecessed portions of the end walls provide vertical load-bearing capability and close out the ends of the longitudinally extending legs. A flatbottom interior may be provided by an insertable recess cover having a horizontal platform supported upon a pair of vertical riser panels. As an alternative, a flat-bottom interior may be provided by inserting rigid conformably shaped filler pads into the container legs. This latter configuration transforms the container into a pallet box strong enough to bear relatively heavy vertical loads.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a single piece blank assembly of the container in preferred embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container bottom in partially erected condition.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the container bottom in a further state of erection.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a recess cover being inserted into a fully erected container.

FIG. 5 is an end elevation view in partial section of a fully erected container with a recess cover inserted therein.

FIG. 6 is an end elevation view in partial section of a fully erected container with filler blocks placed in the container legs.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The preferred embodiment of the container is erected from a fiberboard blank 11 as illustrated in FIG. 1. The blank as illustrated comprises a pair of rectangular side panels 1 foldably joined along fold lines 25, 26, and 27 to a pair of end panels 2, 2. Provision for a manufacturers joint is made by attaching flap 10 along score line 24 to one side panel 1. Cover flaps 3, 3 and 4, 4 are attached respectively to panels 1, l and 2, 2 along a single score line 18.

As further illustrated in FIG. 1, slots 28 extend upwardly from the lower margin of blank 11 to define recess flaps 6. Recess flaps 6 are foldably joined to end panels 2 along recessed fold lines 23 thereby creating medial marginal recesses in end panels 2 and leaving upstanding nonrecessed marginal portions 17.

Foot flaps 5 are foldably joined to end panels 2 along fold lines 22. Slots 29, 30, 31 and fold lines 19, 20 21 further define foot panels 7, leg panels 8, and recess panels 9.

As illustrated in the FIGS. 2 and 3, foot panels 7, leg panels 8, and recess panels 9 are configured to conform about the container legs into the recess defined by recess flaps 6. As a result, the container is provided with two integral longitudinally extending legs, each of which is defined by an associated sidewall and foldably joined panels depending therefrom. These legs are closed at their ends by nonrecessed portions 17 of end panels 2.

The container as above described is particularly well adapted for shipping products of large volume but moderate weight. In some cases it may be necessary to provide the container with greater load carrying capability or with a flat-bottom interior. This capability may be provided by a recess cover 13 configured for insertion into container 12 as illustrated in FIG. 4.

Recess cover 13 comprises a platform I5 and riser panels 14. As illustrated in FIG. 5, platform 15 of recess cover 13 is supported centrally by recess flaps 6 and along its longitudinal edges by riser panels 14.

If container 12 is required to carry particularly heavy loads, these recess cover 13 may be replaced or supplemented by a pair of filler pads l6, 16 as illustrated in FIG. 6. Filler pads I6 may be made of wood, fiberboard, plastic, or any other suitably rigid material.

It will be appreciated that container 12 may be used for shipment of a leg-supported product, and, therefore, a fiatbottom interior may not be desirable. In such a case the legs of the product will set down in the legs of container 12.

Referring again to FIG. 1 it will be noted that blank 11 for container 12 is of generally rectangular configuration and requires only slots and score lines in the directions of the two principal blank axes. This means that the blank may be made easily and economically with simple rotary equipment. No diecutting is required and very little board is wasted.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A shipping container comprising:

l. a pair of rectangular side panels,

2. a pair of end panels joined to said side panels and having matching medial recesses at the lower margins thereof,

3. recess closure means comprising a pair of recess flaps foldably joined to said end panels along the margins of said medial recesses,

4. a pair of integral longitudinally extending legs closed out at the ends thereof by the nonrecessed portions at the lower margins of said end panels; each leg being defined in longitudinal extent by an associated side panel and each comprising:

i. a foot panel foldably joined to said side panel,

ii. an upwardly extending leg panel foldably joined to the foot panel, and

iii. a pair of foot flaps disposed interiorly of said foot panel and extending toward each other from lower marginal fold lines along corresponding nonrecessed portions of said end panels,

5. a pair of mutually abutting recess panels foldably attached to said leg panels and disposed exteriorly of said recess flaps, and

6. an upstanding recess cover comprising a platform supported by a pair of riser panels; said platform resting centrally upon said recess flaps with said riser panels resting on said foot flaps and in face contact with said side panels and thus providing the shipping container with a flat-bottom interior.

2. A single piece shipping container comprising:

1. a first end panel bounded at the lower margin thereof by a medial recess,

2. a first side panel foldably joined to the first end panel along the entire vertical extent thereof,

3. a medially recessed second end panel similar to the first end panel and situated opposite thereto by foldable connection along its entire vertical length to the first side panel,

4. a second side panel foldably joined to the second end panel along the entire vertical'extent thereof at the side opposite the first side panel,

5. fastening means the second side panel to the first end panel,

6. a pair of recess flaps foldably joined to the end panels along the recessed lower margins thereof and extending mutually inward for provision of a substantially full inner recess ply,

7 four foot flaps foldably joined to said end panels along the nonrecessed lower margins thereof and extending mutually inward for provision of a substantially full inner ply for each foot,

8. a pair of foot panels foldably joined to the side panels along the lower margins thereof and overlying the foot flaps on the exterior thereof to provide a pair of substantially two-ply supporting feet for said container. 9. a pair upwardly extending leg panels foldably joined to the foot panels along the inner margins thereof, and 10. a pair of recess panels foldably joined to the leg panels along the upper margins thereof; said excess panels overlying the recess flaps on the exterior thereof and extending mutually inward into abutting relationship to provide said container with a substantially two-ply recess for reception of a fork lift or the like; the length of each foot flap being substantially equal to the combined widths of foot panel, a leg panel, and a recess panel and the length of the recess flaps exceeding the length of the foot flaps by an amount equal to the recess distance of said medial recesses thereby enabling fabrication of said container from a generally rectangular blank. 

1. A shipping container comprising:
 1. a pair of rectangular side panels,
 2. a pair of end panels joined to said side panels and having matching medial recesses at the lower margins thereof,
 3. recess closure means comprising a pair of recess flaps foldably joined to said end panels along the margins of said medial recesses,
 4. a pair of integral longitudinally extending legs closed out at the ends thereof by the nonrecessed portions at the lower margins of said end panels; each leg being defined in longitudinal extent by an associated side panel and each comprising: i. a foot panel foldably joined to said side panel, ii. an upwardly extending leg panel foldably joined to the foot panel, and iii. a pair of foot flaps disposed interiorly of said foot panel and extending toward each other Pg,7 from lower marginal fold lines along corresponding nonrecessed portions of said end panels,
 5. a pair of mutually abutting recess panels foldably attached to said leg panels and disposed exteriorly of said recess flaps, and
 6. an upstanding recess cover comprising a platform supported by a pair of riser panels; said platform resting centrally upon said recess flaps with said riser panels resting on said foot flaps and in face contact with said side panels and thus providing the shipping container with a flat-bottom interior.
 2. a pair of end panels joined to said side panels and having matching medial recesses at the lower margins thereof,
 2. A single piece shipping container comprising:
 2. a first side panel foldably joined to the first end panel along the entire vertical extent thereof,
 3. a medially recessed second end panel similar to the first end panel and situated opposite thereto by foldable connection along its entire vertical length to the first side panel,
 3. recess closure means comprising a pair of recess flaps foldably joined to said end panels along the margins of said medial recesses,
 4. a pair of integral longitudinally extending legs closed out at the ends thereof by the nonrecessed portions at the lower margins of said end panels; each leg being defined in longitudinal extent by an associated side panel and each comprising: i. a foot panel foldably joined to said side panel, ii. an upwardly extending leg panel foldably joined to the foot panel, and iii. a pair of foot flaps disposed interiorly of said foot panel and extending toward each other Pg,7 from lower marginal fold lines along corresponding nonrecessed portions of said end panels,
 4. a second side panel foldably joined to the second end panel along the entire vertical extent thereof at the side opposite the first side panel,
 5. fastening means fastening the second side panel to the first end panel,
 5. a pair of mutually abutting recess panels foldably attached to said leg panels and disposed exteriorly of said recess flaps, and
 6. an upstanding recess cover comprising a platform supported by a pair of riser panels; said platform resting centrally upon said recess flaps with said riser panels resting on said foot flaps and in face contact with said side panels and thus providing the shipping container with a flat-bottom interior.
 6. a pair of recess flaps foldably joined to the end panels along the recessed lower margins thereof and extending mutually inward for provision of a substantially full inner recess ply,
 7. four foot flaps foldably joined to said end panels along the nonrecessed lower margins thereof and extending mutually inward for provision of a substantially full inner ply for each foot.
 8. a pair of foot panels foldably joined to the side panels along the lower margins thereof and overlying the foot flaps on the exterior thereof to provide a pair of substantially two-ply supporting feet for said container.
 9. a pair of upwardly extending leg panels foldably joined to the foot panels along the inner margins thereof, and
 10. a pair of recess panels foldably joined to the leg panels along the upper margins thereof; said recess panels overlying the recess flaps on the exterior thereof and extending mutually inward into abutting relationship to provide said container with a substantially two-ply recess for reception of a fork lift or the like; the length of each foot flap being substantially equal to the combined widths of foot panel, a leg panel, and a recess panel and the length of the recess flaps exceeding the length of the foot flaps by an amount equal to the recess distance of said medial recesses thereby enabling fabrication of said container from a generally rectangular blank. 